The church was built between 1908 and 1911. The architect was
John T. Comès of
Pittsburgh with modifications and supervision by architect Joseph Marshall of
Topeka. According to the church history, each member of the church who was 12 or older was asked to give $45, haul six wagon loads of
Fencepost limestone and four loads of sand each year until the church was built. Some families brought as many as 70 to 80 wagonloads of stone. The nickname
The Cathedral of the Plains was bestowed upon the structure by former presidential candidate
William Jennings Bryan after he visited the town in 1912. Its 48 historic stained-glass windows were installed in 1916, by
Munich Studio of Chicago, at a cost of $3,700, and are now valued at more than $1 million. The church was added to the National Register in 1971. In 1994, the church began a series of restoration efforts. The congregation spent more than $265,000 on weatherproofing the exterior, re-plastering and repainting the interior and updating the sound, electrical and heating systems. Work also included installing a marble floor in the sanctuary for $60,000 and replacing old carpeting and linoleum floors in other areas. The parish re-shingled the church roof in 2006 for $137,000. The twin towers are 141 feet tall and are clearly visible from
Interstate 70, making the basilica a major landmark in western Kansas. Image:Marker.jpg|Plaque outside the church (1997) File:Victoria Kansas Cathedral of the Plains Front.jpg|Front of the church (1997) Image:Cathedral of the plains Victoria Interior.jpg|Nave of the church (2011) File:Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Church (Victoria, Kansas) convent 20180915 090603.jpg|Convent next to church (2018)
Capuchins Since the late 19th century, the faithful and their meeting places in
Ellis County, Kansas, including St. Fidelis Catholic Church, have been overseen by the
Capuchin Order, a subset of the
Franciscans. A three-story building beside the church is a
Friary of the Capuchins, and now houses retired and aging Capuchin priests. ==Notable persons==